Housing part for an electrical adjusting drive

ABSTRACT

In the case of a housing part according to the related art, it is still necessary to assemble many components using additional assembly steps. They include a connector and a brush holder, for example.  
     A housing part ( 1 ) designed according to the invention comprises a brush holder ( 36 ) and mounting feet ( 33 ) that are designed integral with the housing part ( 1 ), so that further assembly steps are eliminated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention is based on a housing part for an electricaladjusting drive according to the general class of claim 1.

[0002] The act of applying a plastic coating to a pressed screen bymeans of injection molding is made known EP 0 639 884 B1 and U.S. Pat.No. 5,521,785, whereby housing parts for an electric motor are mountedon the plastic coating.

[0003] DE 197 02 833 A1 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,762,579 show a gearboxhousing cover on which a pressed screen comprising sliding contacts islocated.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In contrast, the housing part according to the invention havingthe characterizing features of claim 1 has the advantage that manycomponents of an electrical adjusting drive are simply and easilyintegrated on the housing part, thereby reducing the assembly times andthe number of parts to be assembled.

[0005] Advantageous further developments and improvements of the housingpart named in claim 1 are made possible by the measures listed in thedependent claims.

[0006] A pressed screen is advantageously used for the internalconductor tracks or the external conductor tracks, because they are easyto produce and bend starting with a piece of sheet metal.

[0007] The external conductor tracks can advantageously comprise slidingcontacts that, together with potentiometer tracks of the electricaladjusting drive, make it possible to control the electrical adjustingdrive.

[0008] The housing part can advantageously comprise recesses in whichelectrical elements such as thermal circuit breakers,interference-suppression chokes, capacitors, etc., are located, by wayof which the electrical elements are more easily mounted on the housingpart.

[0009] The internal conductor tracks advantageously form plug-incontacts for a connector, whereby the connector housing isadvantageously formed integral with the housing part. This reduces thenumber of parts to be assembled.

[0010] The housing part comprises at least one mounting foot, with whichthe electrical adjusting drive can be attached to a mount, for example,when the housing part is joined with the electrical adjusting drive.

[0011] It is advantageous when the housing part comprises a brush holderdesigned integral with said housing part, because this eliminates theinstallation of an additional brush holder on the housing part or themotor housing of the electrical adjusting drive.

SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawingin simplified form and are described in greater detail in the subsequentdescription.

[0013]FIG. 1a shows a housing part, designed according to the invention,comprising internal and external conductor tracks. FIG. 1b shows ahousing part designed according to the invention, according to FIG. 1awith a connector housing,

[0014]FIG. 2 shows a housing part designed according to the invention,according to 2 FIG. 1a with sliding contacts,

[0015]FIG. 3 shows the arrangement of electrical elements in recesses ofa housing part designed according to the invention, and the electricalcontacting of them by means of insulation piercing connecting devices,

[0016]FIG. 4 shows a housing part designed according to the inventioncomprising mounting feet,

[0017]FIG. 5 shows a brush holder that is designed integral with thehousing part designed according to the invention, and

[0018]FIG. 6 shows an exemplary embodiment of a housing part designedaccording to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019]FIG. 1a shows a partial view of a sectional drawing of a housingpart 1, according to the invention, made of plastic, for example, inwhich at least one internal electrical conductor track 4 is at leastpartially located by means of a plastic coating applied by injectionmolding or casting around, for example.

[0020] The housing part 1 can be a cover or a base or an upper part or alower part of a gearbox housing and/or a motor housing of an electricaladjusting drive, such as a windshield wiper drive or a power-windowdrive for motor vehicles, for example.

[0021] The internal conductor tracks 4 can be electrical cables. Theconductor tracks 4 are preferably formed by a pressed screen, forexample.

[0022] The internal conductor tracks 4 project at least partially out ofthe housing part 1 and are joined in electrically conductive fashionwith at least one external conductor track 7 outside of the housing part1, for example, whereby they do not represent terminal lugs ofelectrical components.

[0023] The external conductor tracks 7 are also formed by a pressedscreen, for example, and are held on the housing part 1, e.g., by theelectrical-and, therefore, mechanical as well-contacting on the internalconductor tracks 4 permanently enclosed in the housing part 1.Additionally, the housing part 1 can be joined with the externalconductor tracks 7 by means of further fastening elements such as detentand clamp connections.

[0024] A connector 10 is formed by a part of the internal conductortrack 4 that projects out of the housing part 1, i.e., the plug-incontacts 16, and a connector housing 13 formed as a part of the housingpart 1 (FIG. 1b). The connector housing 13 can also be developedseparate from the housing part 1, so that it can be adapted tocustomer-specific desires.

[0025] The connector 10 serves to connect to an external electricalpower source that supplies the electrical elements located on thehousing part 1 with electric current or voltage.

[0026]FIG. 2 shows a part of a housing part 1 designed according to theinvention, in the case of which one end of the external electricalconductor track 7 is bent by more than 90° out of its plane ofattachment, so that it forms sliding contacts 19.

[0027] The sliding contacts 19 can also be formed by internal conductortracks 4.

[0028] The sliding contacts 19 are designed with spring action, i.e.,force must be used to press them toward the housing part 1 and, once theforce is released, they spring back.

[0029] An electrical contact point 20 on the end of the sliding contact19 forms the electrical contact with a not shown potentiometer track onanother housing part. By means of electrical potentiometer tracks thatare located in the electrical adjusting drive, e.g, in the gearboxhousing, the electrical adjusting drive can be switched on and off, forexample.

[0030] Copper, for example, is used as the material for the contactpoint 20, and said contact point is designed at least partiallyspherical in shape.

[0031]FIG. 3 shows the arrangement of at least one electrical element 24in at least one recess 22 of a housing part 1 designed according to theinvention. An electrical interference-suppression choke 27, for example,as an electrical element 24, is located in a recess 22 of the housingpart 1. The recess 22 is designed in such a fashion, for example, thatthe interference-suppression choke 27 fits tightly in it and is held inthis fashion. The interference-suppression choke 27 can also be situatedloosely in the recess 22, whereby a secure fastening to the housing part1 takes place by means of the electrical and, therefore, the mechanicalcontact with the mechanically stiff external conductor tracks 7.

[0032] The interference-suppression choke 27 is joined at both ends withthe ends of the external electrical conductor track 7 by means of“insulation piercing connecting devices” 30 or by soldering or welding.Capacitors to provide damping in the electric circuit and/or thermalcircuit breakers for protection against overheating of the electricalelements 24 and yaw-rate sensors represent further electrical elements24 that are located on the housing part 1, preferably in the recess 22.

[0033] Mounting feet 33, for example, are required for installing theadjusting drive (not shown) (FIG. 4), in order fasten the adjustingdrive to a wall, for example, an interior wall of a motor vehicle, forexample. The mounting feet 33 are designed integral, for example, withthe housing part 1 designed according to the invention. Two mountingfeet 33 are used in this example. The mounting feet 33 can be adapted tospecific customer requests. Mounting holes 34, for example, are providedon their ends, through which screws, for example, can be guided.

[0034] Additionally, a rubber ring 35 can be provided at the mountinghole 34 for damping the adjusting drive against the mounting wall.

[0035]FIG. 5 shows a brush holder 36 that is designed integral, forexample, with the housing part 1 according to FIGS. 1a, 1 b, 2, 3, 4 anddesigned according to the invention. The brush holder 36 is composed ofat least one brush 39 that bears against a commutator (not shown) of anelectric motor of the electrical drive unit. The brush 39 is pressedagainst the commutator by means of a spring 45. The electrical powersupply takes place via the external connector 10, plug-in contacts 16,internal conductor tracks 4, external conductor tracks 7, which, inturn, are then electrically connected with the brush 39 by means ofbrush leads 42.

[0036]FIG. 6 shows a top view of a housing part 1 designed according tothe invention having the parts shown in FIG. 1a, 1 b and 2 through 5.

[0037] The sliding contacts 19 are connected with the internal conductortracks 4 in electrically conductive fashion, which said internalconductor tracks extend inside the housing part 1 up to the connectorhousing 13 (shown as dashed lines in the connector housing 13). Therethey are connected with control electronics via an external connector(not shown). The control electronics can also be located on the gearboxhousing part 1. The brush holder 36 is formed by two high spots 47, forexample, into which the brushes 39 are guided.

What is claimed is:
 1. A housing part for an electrical adjusting drivethat at least partially encloses an electrical internal conductor track,wherein at least one electrical external conductor track (7) is locatedon the housing part (1), and at least one electrical external conductortrack (7) is electrically contacted with the at least one internalconductor track (4).
 2. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the atleast one internal conductor track (4) is designed as a pressed screen.3. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the at least one externalconductor track (7) is designed as a pressed screen.
 4. The housingaccording to claim 1 or 3, wherein the at least one external conductortrack (7) has at least one sliding contact (19).
 5. The housingaccording to claim 1, wherein the housing part (1) has at least onerecess (22) in which at least one electrical element (24) is located. 6.The housing according to claim 5, wherein the electrical element (24) isan interference-suppression choke (27).
 7. The housing according toclaim 5, wherein the electrical element (24) is a thermal circuitbreaker.
 8. The housing part according to claim 1, wherein a connectorhousing (13) is located on the housing part (1).
 9. The housing partaccording to claim 8, wherein the connector housing (13) is designedintegral with the housing part (1).
 10. The housing according to claim 8or 9, wherein the internal conductor tracks (4) with the connectorhousing (13) form a connector (10).
 11. The housing part according toclaim 1, wherein the housing part (1) has at least one mounting foot(33).
 12. The housing part according to claim 1, wherein a brush holder(36) is designed integral with the housing part (1).
 13. The housingpart according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the external conductor tracks(7) have insulation piercing connecting devices for electricalcontacting.
 14. The housing part according to claim 1, wherein thehousing part (1) is a gearbox housing cover.
 15. The housing partaccording to claim 1, wherein the housing part (1) is a gearbox housingbase.
 16. The housing part according to claim 1, wherein the housingpart (1) is a housing part of a gearbox housing of the electricaladjusting drive.
 17. The housing part according to claim 1, wherein theat least one internal conductor track (4) comprises a plastic coatingapplied by injection molding.